EIU Media Relations

EIU Observatory lists open house dates, times this spring

[CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR: MEGAN KEANE]

(Charleston, Illinois) — Eastern Illinois University’s Astronomy Club invites community members to the EIU observatory during its open house events this spring.

The year’s first observatory open house will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, January 31. EIU’s Astronomy Club holds an open house the last Friday of every month of EIU’s fall and spring semesters. 

Additional open house dates this spring include the Fridays of February 28, March 27, and April 24, each taking place from 7 to 9 p.m. Central Standard Time.

EIU’s Observatory houses a 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope that is computer controlled for both positioning and data acquisition. It is located in a dark field on campus which makes it both accessible and useful.

Dr. Donald Pakey, director of the observatory and physics professor, encourages any interested participants in the area to attend the open house event January 31.

“Our observatory is a great way for local children and amateur astronomers to enjoy and learn about space,” Pakey said. “It’s always a fun and educational experience every time we host this event.”

For more information and directions on how to get to the observatory, visit https://www.eiu.edu/physics/observatory.php. 

For more information about EIU, or to learn more about its growing assortment of programs and services, visit the university’s website at www.eiu.edu, or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.